EP0115510B1

EP0115510B1 - Walking device

Info

Publication number: EP0115510B1
Application number: EP83902521A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Fikret Alijagic
Original assignee: GATEHOUSE Maria Fikreta
Current assignee: GATEHOUSE Maria Fikreta
Priority date: 1982-08-09
Filing date: 1983-08-09
Publication date: 1987-12-16
Also published as: JPS59501346A; EP0115510A1; DE3374913D1; WO1984000675A1; DE3374913T; EP0115510A4

Abstract

Walking devices to help train infants to walk, having a base (10) and an annular support structure (13). The annular support structure (13) supports an infant and allows said infant to walk around the base (10). The annular support (13) is connected to the base (10) by the post (11) allowing the support (13) to rotate around a vertical axis defined by the post (11).

Description

The present invention relates to a walking aid, for use by infants, to help train them to walk as well as keep them within a predetermined area.
A conventional means of walking trainer provides a seating framework on castors, and allows the infant to sit down and propel itself along the floor. This unfortunately enables the child to collide with furniture and people, and allows the child to roam out of sight of its parents. Thus this known type of device does not prevent an infant from getting itself into difficulty or into a parents way at dangerous times such as while cooking in the kitchen. Physiologically, the seating framework on castors tends to create a bent posture in the infant user, such that when the infant learns to walk without the framework may assume the bent posture that it had whilst seated. Although the bones of infants are soft and the posture may eventually straighten up after the child learns to walk properly, it nonetheless subjects the infants developing skeleton to unnecessary strain.
These wheeled seating devices also allow for the possibility that an infant may roam out of the adults view within the imminent risk of rolling or falling down the stairs.
A walking aid in accordance with the prior art portion of claim 1 is known from FR-A-651584. FR-A-651584 discloses a walking aid for an infant including a base, a post extending upwardly from the base to be supported thereby and infant support means. The support means comprises an arm extending some distance outwardly from the post and rotatably mounted on the post with a wing or belt at the outer end of the arm to receive and-encompass the body of the infant so as to support the infant in a generally walking posture. At the top of the post there is a circular platform on which an abacus is mounted around the perimeter of the platform. That arrangement does not provide a stable support for a child particularly if the child wishes to rest for a period between walking there being nothing for the child to lean against.
This invention provides a walking aid for an infant, said aid including a base, an upwardly extending post mounted at the centre of the base, a radially outwardly extending member mounted on the post to turn the axis of the post, said member having a support structure to encompass and support an infant in a generally walking posture on the base to support the infant in walking in a path around the post axis on the base, wherein the support structure of said member lies immediately adjacent to the axis of the post about which said member turns to encompass and support an infant in close proximity to the post.
Particular embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims 2-8.
Preferably the post includes adjustment means to adjust the height of the support structure above the base and/or to adjust the torque required to rotate the support structure about the axis. In one particular construction, the support structure is generally elliptical and/or is padded and/or upholstered.
The following is a description of some specific embodiments of the invention, a reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a walking device of a preferred embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an elevational view illustrating a different pivot arrangement for the embodiment of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 4 is an elevational view of a further embodiment incorporating another form of pivot construction.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the walking aid 9 of a preferred embodiment comprises a base member such as a round flat base 10, with a vertical support 11 with a raised spindle 12. Coupled to the spindle 12 is an annular enclosure 13, shown here as an under shoulder type support.
An alternative type of pivot arrangement, whereby the support 20 is hollow so as to allow a post 21 of outside diameter smaller than the inside diameter of support 20, is illustrated in Fig. 3. Attached to the post 21 is an annular enclosure 22.
All of the described embodiments allow the infant to be supported either by an under shoulder arrangement or a seating arrangement. Once in this position, the infant, by using its legs and feet can propel itself on the base around the pivot.
As illustrated in Fig. 4, another embodiment comprises a base 30 having a vertical support 31 adapted to support an annular enclosure 32. The nature of this adaptation is a downwardly projecting spindle 33, which allows the annular enclosure 32 to rotate. Located along the length of the spindle 33 is a recess 34 which receives either a counter sunk counter bored or hidden set screw 35. The set screw 35 must be counter sunk or hidden, so that an infant using this embodiment will not catch clothing, scratch or cut itself.
The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described above.
For example, a seating or "saddle" arrangement may be combined with the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.
Bearings can be introduced into the pivot system, non-slip surfaces can be applied to the base, and the enclosures can be padded and/or upholstered. Preferably the supports and enclosures have adjustment means for different sizes and heights of the infants, and the posts include adjustment means to vary the height of the supports and enclosures above the base. Further adjustment can be included to enable the torque required to rotate the supports and enclosures around the base to be varied.

Claims

1. A walking aid for an infant, said aid including a base (10, 30), an upwardly extending post (11, 20,31) mounted at the centre of the base (10,30), a radially outwardly extending member mounted on the post (11, 20, 31) to turn around the axis of the post (11, 20, 31), said member having a support structure (13, 22, 32) to encompass and support an infant in a generally walking posture on the base (10, 30) to support the infant in walking in a path around the post axis on the base (10,30) characterised in that the support structure (13, 22, 32) of said member lies immediately adjacent to the axis of the post (11, 20, 31) about which said member turns to encompass and support an infant in close proximity to the post (11,20,31).

2. A walking aid as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said base incorporates at least one non-slip surface.

3. A walking aid as claimed in claims 1 or 2, characterised in that said support structure (13, 22, 32) is generally elliptical and/or is padded and/ or upholstered.

4. A walking aid as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said infant support structure comprises a saddle.

5. A walking aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims characterised in that, said post (11, 20,31) comprises adjustment means to adjust the height of said support structure (13, 22, 32) above said base and/or to adjust the torque required to rotate said support structure (13, 22, 32) about said axis.

6. A walking aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said support structure (13) comprises adjustment means to accommodate different sizes and heights of infants.

7. A walking aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said post (31) and support structure (32) are rotatably connected by means of a releasable locking means (34,35).

8. A walking aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said post (31) and support structure (32) incorporate friction reduction means.